Torquato tasso fischer



(No Model) I,

' T. T. FISCHER.

PIANO ACTION.

Patented Jan. 19, 1897.

l y 57am W 0 fJsafils'cizer ATTORNEY,

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TORQUATO TASSO FISCHER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,470, dated January 19, 1897.

Application filed May 11, 1896. $e1ial No. 590,984. (No model.)

tion with that class of instruments in which the strings are placed horizontally,and termed grand pianos.

The object of my invention is to simplify the hitherto-known grand-piano actions by eliminating several of the parts generally considered essential to the working of the same and substituting in their stead fewer and simpler parts, thereby lessening the cost of manufacture and producing an action that may be easily and quickly repaired or adjusted.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

A is a rail pivotally supporting the butt B of a hammer.

D is a rail pivotally supporting the whip E. At the opposite end of the whip E is pivotally supported a jack F. The upper end of the jack F stands normally under the butt B and against a shoulder 19 from said butt.

fis a lever extension from the jack F, which when the adjacent end of the whip E is elevated strikes against a stop G, causing the jack to be tripped in the usual manner, thus freeing the latter fora time from engagement with the butt This stop G is by preference adjustably supported by the rail II. A spring I, located between the lever extension f and the adjacent portion of the whip E, causes the jack F to be moved back into its normal position, as illustrated, when the piano-key is released, as hereinafter more fully described.

J is a downwardly-projecting extension from the butt B.

K is a repetition-lever, comprising substantially a spring ad j u stably carried by the whip E. The upper end of the repetition-lever K rests under the extension J, as shown in Fig. 1. L is a screw by which the elevation of the repetitionlever is adjusted.

M is a piano-key, the inner end of said key only being shown. The free end of the whip E is supported by said key in any well-known manner, the means shown being termed a capstan-screw N, which permits the relative position of the parts E M to be adjusted.

O is a guide forthe repetition-lever, adapted to keep the same in proper alinement under the butt extension J.

P is a buffer or support upon which the shank of the hammer rests when in its normal position, as shown.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 2 shows a repetition-lever K, carried by the whip in the above-described manner, the said lever bearing directly against the butt B instead of against the extension J, as previously described.

In operation the outer end of the key is depressed and the inner end raised, thereby raising the free end of the whip E. The hammer B is simultaneously raised by action of the jack F, the latter being tripped by the means above referred to when the hammer is at a suitable distance from the string of the instrument, freeing the upper end of the whip-jack from said butt, so as to in no way impair the striking action of the hammer. hen the inner end of the key is lowered, the whip is likewise lowered, assisted by the weight of the hammer on the repetition springlever K and also by the action of the spring I, which spring tends also to force the adjacent end of said whip into its normal position, as shown. The repetition spring-lever K normally holds the butt B of thehammer at such a distance from the free end of the whip that as the parts descend into their normal position the upper end of the jack is slipped quickly under said butt and is again in a position ready to perform its function in transmitting the force of a blow on the key to the hammer.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention some changes in the particular construction and arrangement shown and described may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the speeilie form shown, but hold myseli' at liberty to make such changes as are :i'airly within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my inYention,What I claim is i l. A piano-action comprising, a rocking l; ey supporting one end of apivotally-niounted whip, a jack spring-actuated and pivotally mounted at one end of the whip, the upper end of said jack bearing normally under the hammer-butt and against a shoulder thereon, means for tripping said jack, a spring K mounted on the whip, the free end of said. spring bearing against the under side of the hammer-butt rear-hard of said shoulder, substantially as described.

2. A piano-action comprising a rocking key, loosely supporting one end of a pivotally-mounted whip, a jack spring-actuated and pivotalb mounted at one end of the Whip, the upper end of said jack bearing normally under the hammer-butt and against a shoulder thereon, means ,iTor tripping said jack, a spring K mounted on the Whip, the :free end of said spring bearing against the underside of the lltl11l1l01l')1liii1 rearward of said shoulder, and a guide For said spring K, substantially as described.

3. A piano action. comprising a rocking key loosely supporting one end of a pivotally-nionnted whip, a spring-actuated jack pivotally supported toward the same end of said whip, the upper end of said jaelc l)(?i'll' ing normally under the llttil11'l101-l)tl't'i: and against the forward face of a shoulder thereon, means for tripping said jaek when the Whip is raised, a spring K mounted at a point intermediate in the length ot the whip, and an adjusting-screw therefor, the free end 01. said spring K hearing against the under side of a catcher extension on the haminer-shank and rearward of the whip-engaging shoulder thereon, and a guide for said spring K.

Witnesses:

R. O. iiliireiinimy, J. h. Oswanu. 

